As the traditional Auld Lang Syne rang in the New Year, tens of thousands of balloons (reportedly a world record) fell from the rafters. This show marked the first Phish performance of Bohemian Rhapsody which, along with Julius and Amazing Grace, featured the Boston Community Choir. PYITE included Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough teases from Page.

Reba did not have the whistling ending. Talk featured Trey on acoustic guitar. The P.A. cut out during Funky Bitch, during which Fish took an “air drum” solo, Trey performed Townshend-style windmills, and the entire band engaged in random silliness while still “playing” the song. Scent featured a Page/Mike Mule Duel and a guest appearance from comedian Steven Wright, who came out and rang a desk bell three times.

[1] Phish debut; performed solo by Mike on piano.
[2] Vocal jam.
[3] Harpua, Poster, and Jimmy were confronted by the “Über Demon” and the “evil sound of hell.”
[4] Phish debut; Tom Marshall on vocals.

Squirming Coil contained a Sesame Street theme tease from Page. Mike performed the Phish debut of Sixteen Candles solo on piano. Tom Marshall contributed the vocals to the Phish debut of Champagne Supernova as Harpua, Poster, and Jimmy were confronted by the “Über Demon” and the “evil sound of hell.” This show featured the breakout of Caravan, which had been shelved since December 2, 1994 (160 shows).

Makisupa Policeman included the cryptic lyrics “Stink, Stank, Stunk,” which may have been a reference to the theme song in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Weekapaug Groove ended with a long Page solo. The Star Spangled Banner was dedicated to Kate Smith, who used to sing God Bless America at Flyers’ home hockey games.

2001 included Super Bad teases. The YEM vocal jam was based on donuts. The jam out of Simple contained Blister in the Sun quotes. Sweet Adeline was performed without microphones. The opening segment of Harpua was performed in a normal 4/4 time signature as opposed to its usual 7/4 signature. Wildwood Weed (a Phish debut with Les Claypool on vocals) and parts of Harpua featured Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde of Primus. I Want To Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart also made its Phish debut at this show and featured the Yodeling Cowgirls on vocals, Claypool, LaLonde, and John McEuen. Happy Trails was teased in Harpua before and after Sweetheart. Suspicious Minds featured four Elvis impersonators on vocals with Fish joining in at the end. Suzy Greenberg featured Claypool, LaLonde, McEuen, the Elvis impersonators, The Yodeling Cowgirls dancing on stage, and actor Courtney Gains on Trey’s percussion rack. One of the Elvis impersonators led a Susie Q jam at the end of Suzy Greenberg. The soundcheck's Funky Bitch/Dog Log mashup featured Dog Log lyrics sung over Funky Bitch's music. This show was officially released as Phish Vegas 96.

The Old Home Place and Uncle Pen featured John McEuen on banjo. Timber through Funky Bitch featured Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone. Taste included an intro jam that was basically a slowed-down version of the song. The Amazing Grace Jam and Possum featured Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone and McEuen on lap slide guitar. Punch You in the Eye and 2001 featured Get Up Offa That Thing quotes and James Brown antics from Fish. 2001 also contained Super Bad teases from Trey. The lyrics to Brother included a reference to Steve McConnell.

The Mule Duel included Brady Bunch theme scats from Trey and some vacuum action from Fish. Fire and Bold As Love were dedicated to Jimi Hendrix on his birthday. The Disease and Tweezer combo has led some fans to refer to this as the “Diseezer.” The return to DWD contained a Can’t You Hear Me Knocking ending.

[1] Phish debut.
[2] Key words: “Woke up in the morning, border guard in my bunk, he took his fucking dog on the bus, and he found my dank.”
[3] Unfinished.

This show included the first Phish performance of Midnight on the Highway, which was learned while the band was stopped at the American/Canadian border. Makisupa also referenced the border-crossing incident: “Woke up in the morning, border guard in my bunk, he took his fucking dog on the bus, and he found my dank.” Weekapaug was unfinished.

Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Trey announced the first-ever Vibration of Life dedication and sent it out to the crew in general, and more specifically, Bob Neumann, the band’s Audio Crew Chief and speaker designer. YEM included a Groove Is in the Heart jam that included brief lyrics.

Page teased Maple Leaf Rag at the end of Gumbo. The Vibration of Life was announced by Trey as “Written by God” and was performed for the first time since November 30, 1994 (148 shows). At the end of Axilla, the light crew also received a bizarre tribute and Leigh Fordham, a member of Phish's light crew, was mentioned several times. The Hood lyrics were subsequently altered slightly to include a bit about Leigh Fordham. Suzy Greenberg included Leigh Fordham references as well as La Grange and Axilla teases. We’re An American Band made its Phish debut in the city referenced in its lyrics.

Mimi Fishman addressed the crowd before the show and noted that the band was donating a portion of the proceeds from the show to charity. After Sleeping Monkey, Trey announced that the show was brought to you by the letter M (referencing all the second-set songs with “M”-titles) and the number 420. This show marked the Phish debut of Mean Mr. Mustard, complete with a John Popper (cloaked in a cape and hobbling with a cane to the roar of the audience) cameo as the “dirty old man.” Popper stayed on stage to lend his harmonica to a very short Weekapaug closer and Funky Bitch encore.

Trey had equipment problems in Simple, so Loving Cup (“I know I play a bad guitar”) was played next. Simple included a Cecilia tease. ATR was played for the first time since July 1, 1995 (108 shows) and Axilla was played for the first time since October 16, 1994 (170 shows).

Page teased HYHU before Suzy. Trey teased Dave's Energy Guide during Gin. Fish humorously stumbled through Bike, which was played by request. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.

Karl Perazzo sat in on percussion for the entire show. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Mike repeatedly teased the bass line of Dave's Energy Guide in the C&P jam and then Trey very briefly teased it as well. The lyric “Norton Charlton Heston” replaced “Marco Esquandolas” in Antelope. Butch Trucks joined the band on drums for the encore while Fish played Trey’s percussion rack. Portions of this performance were released to the syndicated radio program The Album Network. This show was released as the Coral Sky DVD in 2010 and is available as a download from LivePhish.

[1] Narration referred to David Byrne, who appeared in the mountain as the face of Icculus, threw Forbin off the mountain and into the arms of the "evil" Famous Mockingbird.
[2] Phish debut; Karl Perazzo on percussion, Dave Grippo on saxophone, and Gary Gazaway on trumpet.
[3] Phish debut; Karl Perazzo on percussion, Dave Grippo on saxophone, Gary Gazaway on trumpet, and Trey on bass.
[4] Karl Perazzo on percussion.
[5] Karl Perazzo on percussion, Dave Grippo on saxophone, Gary Gazaway on trumpet.
[6] Dave Grippo on saxophone, Gary Gazaway on trumpet.

The Mockingbird narration included a reference to Talking Heads’ David Byrne, who appeared in the mountain as the face of Icculus. As Trey told the story, Byrne threw Colonel Forbin off the mountain and into the arms of the “evil” Famous Mockingbird. The second set "musical costume" was Talking Heads' Remain in Light. All of the Remain in Light songs were Phish debuts; the set featured Karl Perazzo on percussion, Dave Grippo on saxophone, and Gary Gazaway on trumpet. Perazzo also played during the entire third set. Jesus Just Left Chicago, Suzy Greenberg, and Frankenstein also featured Grippo and Gazaway. At the end of Houses in Motion (which featured Trey teasing Tweezer), an armchair was brought out to the center of the stage and Mike sat in it to sing Seen and Not Seen. While he sang, Karl Perazzo drummed and Trey played bass. After Overload, a bizarre on-stage demonstration closed the set. The third set opened with a Feel Like a Stranger tease. Suzy included a Born Under Punches tease from Page. Simple included a tease of Mama Told Me Not to Come. The soundcheck's Overload was performed with horns and briefly featured Fish on vacuum. This show was officially released as Live Phish 15.

[1] Performed twice during the Mule Duel; first by Mike, and then by Page solo on the theremin.
[2] Trey on acoustic guitar.

Catapult was performed twice during the Mule Duel; first by Mike, and then by Page solo on the theremin. Melt contained In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida teases and Taste included a Norwegian Wood tease. Talk featured Trey on acoustic guitar.

[1] Buddy Miles on drums and lead vocals, Merl Saunders on keys, and Fish on Trey's percussion rack.

This Weekapaug, often referred to as the “Freakapaug,” included circus dancers and Mimi Fishman dancing around on stage towards the end. Watchtower (first since April 21, 1994, or 227 shows) featured Buddy Miles on drums and lead vocals, Merl Saunders on keys, and Fish on Trey’s percussion rack. The circus dancers also appeared for the encore.

This was the second show of The Clifford Ball festival. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Before the second set, Trey paid tribute to Aaron Stein of Syracuse, who was front row center for every show of the tour. The first Brother since August 2, 1993 (258 shows) featured Ben and Jerry on guest vocals. Wilson included a Heartbreaker tease. Antelope featured a female acrobat twirling in the rigging, suspended above the stage in a circus-like fashion. Scent of a Mule featured a Page/Fish duel instead of the typical Page/Trey duel. Tweezer had big trampolines on each side of the stage and more circus shenanigans. A stunt plane circled overhead during Tweezer Reprise and Harpua. Harpua was unfinished; it was completed on August 16, 1997 at The Great Went.

This was the first show of The Clifford Ball festival. Bathtub Gin contained a brief DEG tease from Trey. Waste through Strange Design were performed on the acoustic mini-stage. Disease was unfinished. The second set was preceded by a Mary Had a Little Lamb tease. The jam at the end of Harry Hood accompanied a fireworks display. The band took to the back of a flatbed truck at around 3:30 in the morning and drove through the crowd. The performance was one long open-ended jam.

This was the soundcheck for The Clifford Ball. The final jam segment included the first annual soundcheck tribute to "Mr. Sausage," multiple shout-outs to festival staff, and Trey on his mini-drum kit. 50+ minutes of this check were included on the Clifford Ball DVD bonus disc.

[1] Performed solo by Page on theremin.
[2] Performed on acoustic mini-stage.

Page performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow solo on the theremin. Waste through Strange Design were performed on the acoustic mini-stage. Trey played the composed section to Divided Sky over the soundcheck jam. This show was officially released as Live Phish 12.

My Friend featured Trey using his microphone stand as a slide. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Page teased Sunshine of Your Love during the Mule Duel. Whipping Post was played for the first time since April 20, 1993 (285 shows) and featured Fish on vocals.

[1] Phish debut; Tim O'Brien on mandolin and lead vocals.
[2] Phish debut; Tim O'Brien on bouzouki and lead vocals.
[3] Phish debut.
[4] Narration had Trey tell of giant iguana that would take the crowd to Mars to view the life there.

Stash contained DEG teases from Trey. During Ya Mar, Trey thanked the audience, saluted a Colorado swimmer who won two gold medals at the Olympics, and announced that a special guest would come out later in the set. The last three songs of the first set were all Phish debuts with Ninety-Nine Years featuring Tim O’Brien on mandolin and lead vocals and Hold To A Dream and Doin' My Tume on bouzouki and lead vocals. This show also marked the Phish debut of Gypsy Queen. During the Mockingbird narration, Trey told of a giant iguana that would take the crowd to Mars to view the life there.

Note the “This is Red Rocks, This is the Edge” quote from Trey during the break in Rift. The quote was a reference both to U2’s Live: Under a Blood Red Sky album and Trey’s similar remarks on the Junta-released version of Icculus. Suzy included a Simple tease. The phrase “21 year old Phish Fan Marcus Esquandolas” was substituted for “Marco Esquandolas” during Antelope in reference to a fan’s quote in a newspaper article on the disturbance in Morrison the day before. Tweezer included a Norwegian Wood jam. Harry Hood featured the debut of the “Hood” response chant, initiated by Phish.netters and advertised on flyers handed out at the Red Rocks shows. Among other ideas, the flyers encouraged fans to shout: “Hood” after the band sings “Harry.” It began to rain in the second set; the band responded with Purple Rain, and Chris Kuroda showed the stage in purple lights. The performance of Simple from this gig appears on the Carved in Stone CD benefiting The Rocks Fund, dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Performed solo by Page on theremin.
[3] Page on a smaller piano, Trey on acoustic guitar, Mike on acoustic bass, and Fish on a smaller drum set.
[4] Debut; Page on a smaller piano, Trey on acoustic guitar, Mike on acoustic bass, and Fish on a smaller drum set.

As urged in flyers handed out by Phish.netters, many fans sat down during the silent part of Divided Sky. Down with Disease was unfinished. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was performed solo by Page on the theremin. Waste through Strange Design were performed with Page on a smaller piano, Trey on acoustic guitar, Mike on acoustic bass, and Fish on a smaller drum set. This show marked the first performance of Talk and featured an atypical It’s Ice.

This show marked the debut of Page’s theremin. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was played for the first time since July 3, 1994 (161 shows) and was performed solo by Page on the theremin in response to the huge rainbow that appeared over the venue just before the show started. Possum contained an Oom Pa Pa signal and a Lazy tease from Trey. Antelope included a tease of May The Force Be With You (The Force Theme from Star Wars).

This show was a one-set opener for Santana. Carlos Santana and Karl Perazzo sat in on Taste and Llama, during which Trey flubbed lyrics to both songs; Carlos jumped in to help during Llama, singing a verse. This version of Taste is the debut of the new, reworked version (similar to the Billy Breathes album version).

This unannounced show was performed under the name “Third Ball.” BBFCFM featured Trey using a Rolling Rock beer bottle as a slide. Scent of a Mule included a Sunshine of Your Love tease and saw Trey on keys for portions. Waste and Character Zero debuted at this show. The opening act was Juan Hung Low.

Trey sat in for the entire set, playing along with Sunspots’ guitarist Jim Kebodeaux. Garbage Can Woman featured Sunpie (on harmonica), Jim, and Trey sitting on the edge of the stage after Sunpie said: “I don’t think they can hear us. Let’s get out on the porch.” This performance was part of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and took place on the Fais Do-Do Stage; Phish had performed earlier in the weekend on the Main Stage of JazzFest.

[1] Michael Ray on trumpet.
[2] First two verses performed a cappella.

This single-set performance was part of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Ya Mar included a When the Saints Go Marching In tease. Cars Trucks Buses featured Michael Ray on trumpet. The first two verses of Wolfman’s Brother were performed a cappella as they came out of the YEM vocal jam. David Bowie included a strong Caravan jam. Trey teased The Rover in Cavern. This show was made available as an archival release on LivePhish.com with all proceeds going to Tipitina's Foundation and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Trey joined Merl Saunders and the Rainforest Band on guitar from Built for Comfort through the end of the show. It's in the Air (Konfusion) included a Dixie tease from Trey. Dark Star was performed instrumental and included a China Cat Sunflower tease from Trey. I Feel Like Dynamite included a full-band Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) tease. The rendition of We All Wanna Boogie from this show appears on the CD MerlSaundersWithHisFunkyFriends: Live!

Surrender to the Air was an effort of Trey Anastasio to bring contemporary musicians together to improvise in the free form style of the jazz musician Sun Ra and the Sun Ra Arkestra. This performance, and the previous night were, in conjunction with the previous month’s release of the Surrender to the Air album. The two sets featured entirely improvisational music. In addition to the performers listed, Page sat in keyboards for the second set. This was the final performance at The Academy.

Surrender to the Air was an effort of Trey Anastasio to bring contemporary musicians together to improvise in the free form style of the jazz musician Sun Ra and the Sun Ra Arkestra. This performance, and the following night were, in conjunction with the previous month’s release of the Surrender to the Air album. The two sets featured entirely improvisational music.

Page filled in for an ailing Gregg Allman, playing keyboards on One Way Out through the end of the show. Gregg Allman had been in a minor motorcycle accident the day before the beginning of the annual ABB run at the Beacon. Gregg toughed it out in the first set, but didn’t feel well enough to finish the show. Page was attending the show, and while backstage during the intermission he was invited to fill in for the rest of the gig.

This show marked the inauguration of a weekly series of musical performances at this venue named “Carmel’s Coffeehouse” in memory of Trey’s paternal grandmother, Carmel Musco Anastasio. Air Mail Special contained a Theme from The Brady Bunch tease.

Donate to Mockingbird

Contact Us

The Mockingbird Foundation

The Mockingbird Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Phish fans in 1996 to generate charitable proceeds from the Phish community.

And since we're entirely volunteer – with no office, salaries, or paid staff – administrative costs are less than 2% of revenues! So far, we've distributed over $1,000,000 to support music education for children – hundreds of grants in all 50 states, with more on the way.